NAN-H-30
Mobilisation
Dutse, Feb. 15, 2018 (NAN) Some people in Jigawa have called for adequate mobilization of the rural populace to ensure the success of the Continuous Voters Registration in the state.
In a vox –pop conducted by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), they observed that the exercise was not granted enough publicity to encourage grassroots participation.
One of them, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad, a politician in Dutse, told NAN that he was not aware that such exercise was going on in the state.
He said he had heard through the media about the progress of the CVR in other states but was not aware of any similar exercise in Jigawa.
“As I am talking to you now, I do not know the centres for the continuous voters registration here”, he said.
Another resident of Dutse, Malam Suleiman Umar, said there was the need for the appropriate authorities in the state, to embark on vigorous mobilisation of potential voters, particularly at the grassroots.
“The relevant authorities, especially INEC, should mobilise people to participate in this very important and sensitive exercise, otherwise a lot of people will be disenfranchised in the state,” he said.
Mrs Hadiza Muhammad, a female resident of Dutse, also said she was not aware of any CVR taking place in the state.
Hadiza therefore called for the mobilization of women to participate fully in the exercise because, in her words, “women play key role in Nigeria’s electoral process.”
A resident of Hadejia in Jigawa, Alhaji Adamu Suleiman, told NAN that he had been hearing about the exercise taking place in ‘other states’.
“We have been hearing so much that there is continuous voters’ registration all over the country but in Jigawa, we are not hearing anything,” he said.
Mrs Halima Musa, resident of Kiyawa Local Government Area, said there were many women in the area that had attained the age of 18, but had not registered as a result of lack of publicity.
“I urge INEC in Jigawa to please collaborate with relevant agencies like National Orientation Agency (NOA), the media, and others stake holders, to mobilise people on the importance of continuous voters’ registration,” she advised.
Contacted for his reaction to the development, Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Jigawa, Alhaji Shuaibu Karamba, said although they had been doing their best, INEC in the state never involved NOA in the exercise.
“Our core mandate for mobilization and sensitization on government policies and programmes are very crucial but we were neglected by INEC in Jigawa to assist in carrying some of their programmes.
“As major stakeholders in the electoral process, we can get to areas with difficult terrain to mobilise people to turn out and be registered but INEC here (in Jigawa) does not know our importance,” he lamented.
Efforts by NAN to get the reaction of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Jigawa, Dr Mahmud Isah, was futile.
After issuing him a questionnaire he requested for, to enable him respond, he finally turned down the request, insisting that the issues raised were “sensitive”, and that “bureaucratic procedure” must be followed. (NAN)
AIS/ASH/ASH